New breast cancer fundraising walk debuts Oct. 25

Theresa Mims-Bell, Geneva Feaster and Anita Bales take a "selfie" to help promote the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer kickoff on social media. The event was held at the Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites in Bossier City.
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A new American Cancer Society fundraising walk focusing on breast cancer will debut in Shreveport-Bossier City in October.

The organization held its kickoff for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event this morning. The announcement comes as the northwest Louisiana Susan G. Komen organization prepares for Friday in Pink, one of the events leading up to its 20th anniversary Race for the Cure.

Making Strides began in 1993. About 300 communities around the United States held the event in 2013, with more than 1 million walkers raising $68 million.

"I would like to get all my colleagues and family and friends to participate," said Geneva Feaster, one of the 50 people attending the Shreveport-Bossier kickoff breakfast this morning.

Feaster, of Shreveport, said she's motivated by her mother's experience with breast cancer.

"She was diagnosed last August. She gets checked like she's supposed to and they found it early," Feaster said. "She received a mastectomy but she didn't have to have radiation or chemo."

Walk organizers are encouraging people form 10-person teams and aim to bring in at least $20,000 through team fundraising, said Rachel Stern, a spokeswoman for the local American Cancer Society affiliate.

Money from the walks goes to breast cancer research, information and services for patients and access to mammograms.

"There's no deadline for fundraising," Stern said. "Teams can show up at the event and walk and bring their donations."

What's next

American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk

When: Oct 25. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. and the walk at 8 a.m.

Where: Stoner Boat Launch, Clyde Fant Parkway at Stoner Avenue in Shreveport. Participants will take a 5k, non-competitive walk along the parkway, beginning and ending at the boat launch.